[GIS] Merging attribute tables from feature classes into single table

arcgis-10.1arcgis-desktop

I have a large number (approx. 1,100) polygon feature classes.

What I would like to do is to merge the attribute tables from each of these feature classes into a single table, in the simplest and fastest way possible.

This will be the first step in a script or model that then uses that table with all polygon values from all layers to perform some tabular joins and selections. Each time I run this script, I will want to re-do the table merge, as the underlying polygon feature classes may change. If it's possible to write the merged table into memory, for speed, that would be best.

I'm using ArcGIS 10.1. I think I can do this easily enough in VBA/VB.net, but it might be simplest to set it up as a ModelBuilder model, so that it's easy to share with colleagues.

Best Answer

I think I would personally have the model run the Merge tool to generate a merged feature class stored in the in_memory workspace, and then use the Make Table View tool with that merged feature class as an input to create an in-memory version of the attribute table.

The Make Table View tool also provides the flexibility to apply an SQL query to filter the table.

Related Solutions

[GIS] How to batch merge point, polygon and line feature classes into a new feature class

I suggest populating a python dictionary. The key would be your category, and the values would be a python list of your feature classes to merge. Use a for loop to iterate through your geodatabases, and another to iterate through your feature classes. Check each feature class to determine if it contains points. If not, perform a Feature To Point conversion. Something like this (untested):

#-Locals

#List of GDBs
gdbs = [r"c:\test\NoxiousWeeds_points.gdb",
        r"c:\test\NoxiousWeeds_poly.gdb",
        r"c:\test\NoxiousWeeds_lines.gdb"]

#Merge GDB
mergeGdb = r"c:\test\NoxiousWeeds_merged.gdb"

#Workspace
#Use "in_memory" or workspace geodatabase on disk
workspace = "in_memory"

#-End Locals

#Import modules
from arcpy import *
import os

#dictionary to be populated with list of all feature classes
fcsDi = {}

#Garbage for deleting created feature classes
garbage = []

#Iterate through three GDBs
for gdb in gdbs:
    print "Iterating", gdb
    #Set workspace to GDB
    env.workspace = gdb

    #List feature classes in gdb
    fcs = ListFeatureClasses ()

    #Iterate through feature classes
    for fc in fcs:
        #Check if feature class is points
        shape = Describe (fc).shapeType
        if shape != "Point":
            #Feature to point
            outFile = os.path.join (workspace, fc + "_point")
            FeatureToPoint_management (fc, outFile, "INSIDE")
            garbage += [outFile]
        else:
            outFile = os.path.join (gdb, fc)

        #Remove unwanted text to determine merge
        fcCategory = fc.replace ("_poly", "").replace ("_lines", "").replace ("_points", "")

        #Check if category is in dictionary
        if fcCategory in fcsDi:
            fcsDi [fcCategory] += [outFile]
        #If not in dictionary
        else:
            fcsDi [fcCategory] = [outFile]

#Iterate through dictionary keys
for category in fcsDi:
    print "Merging", category
    #Path to merge feature class
    outFc = os.path.join (mergeGdb, category + "_merged")
    #Get list of feature classes from dictionary
    fcs = fcsDi [category]
    #Merge
    print "Created:", outFc
    Merge_management (fcs, outFc)

#Clean up
for trash in garbage:
    Delete_management (trash)

ArcGIS ModelBuilder – Creating a List of All Feature Classes in a Geodatabase

I found the answer to use the same logic used with collect values in sub model. I added another collect value in main model and connect it to output from sub model. This way, all feature classes in every dataset will be collected in this list. Now, use this model as sub model.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[GIS] How to batch merge point, polygon and line feature classes into a new feature class

ArcGIS ModelBuilder – Creating a List of All Feature Classes in a Geodatabase

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